US troops immunity to be decided by Afghan grand assembly

Afghan president Hamid Karzai on Monday said the issue of immunity for the US troops staying in Afghanistan beyond 2014 will be decided by the end of the year.

President Karzai told reporters that it will take at least eight to nine months until we reach to an agreeement regarding the US troops immunity, which is currenty under the discussions.

He was speaking during a press conference after meeting with the US president Barack Obama in Washington during his four days visit.

This comes as the US proposal regarding the question of immunity was refused by the Afghan government during the initial talks however officials from the two nations will hold talks for second time in Kabul this year to discuss the issue.

Karzai said the issue of immunity will possibly be discussed with the political and community leadres during a Loya Jigar “grand assemly, which normally formed to discuss the issues of national importance.

US troops in Afghanistan will end “most” combat operations this spring, US President Barack Obama and Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai have agreed.

Most of the 66,000 US troops in Afghanistan are due to leave in 2014 however US commanders have suggested leaving between 6,000 and 15,000 troops in Afghanistan to pursue insurgents and train Afghan security forces.

Obama said any agreement to keep troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014 must include an immunity agreement so that U.S. troops are not subjected to Afghan law. Karzai noted that he could argue for immunity in a way that would not compromise his country’s sovereignty.